Selective timer switch



Dec. 10, 1940. M. J. MADISON SELECTIVE TIMER SWITCH- Filed May 24, 19390 g 0 6 0 0 6 JEIEIEIS]@E]@EIEB l0 o o 0 o 0 o 8 OFF 7 o o o o FIGI.

MARTIN J. M ADisoN INVENTOR GQA WM ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 10, 1940UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The object of the invention is to provide improvements in selectivetimer switches, such as can be produced at relatively low cost andconsequently available, for instance, to the many users of so-calledneon and similar signs, that should be illuminated only during certainhours, and likewise to users of that vast number and variety ofapparatus, that involves periodical starting and stopping in accordancewith a prearranged time schedule, such for instance, as the operation ofan ordinary radio receiving set, to pick up any desired series of eitherconnected or disconnected broadcasts throughout a given time cycle.However, it is to be understood that, while only signs and radio setshave been specifically referred to, the present invention is adapted tocontrol the operation of an infinite number of devices of all sorts, dueto its extreme elasticity of adjustment and portability.

Another object is to provide a device of this character, which isinitially independent of any form of clock movement whatsoever, butwhich can be operatively connected so as to be actuated by any form ofclock movement having a rotatable element, such for instance as theminute or hour hand of the ordinary clock, as well as by means ofso-called electric clocks, the dlfierence between the switch mechanismbeing driven by the hour or minute hand being merely one of a change ingear ratios and not one of operating principles.

A further object is to provide in a device of this character thecombination of a movable, preferably substantially cylindrical, hollowmember provided with properly spaced regions representing times andintervals of time, at which some suitable form of obstruction, such as apin, lug or the like, may be selectively shifted into the path of aswitch actuating member, driven past such first member in accordancewith the movement of the actuating clock mechanism, whereby such switchupon engaging one obstruction is shifted into closed position, and uponsubsequently engaging another obstruction is shifted into open position,and this actuation of the switch being repeatable as many times as maybe desired during a given period, such for instance as a twenty-fourhour day.

With the objects thus briefiy stated, the invention comprises furtherdetails of construction and operation, which are hereinafter brought outin detail in the following description, when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which Fig. I is an elevational view of adevice comprising one embodiment of the invention, operatively attachedto an ordinary clock, representing any available type of time indicatingmechanism, or its equivalent; Fig. II is a top plan view of the switchmechanism per se; Fig. III is a vertical diametrical section through thesame; Fig. IV is a plan view of the device, taken on a plane immediatelybeneath the top cover plate shown in Figs. I and III; Fig. V is a.fragmentary elevational view of the switch from the spring or left-handside, as viewed in Fig. III, with said switch in one extreme position;Fig. V is a similar view showing the switch in opposite position; Fig.VI is a similar view of said switch from the right hand side, as viewedin Fig. III, and corresponding in position with that shown in Fig. V;and Fig. VI is a. view of said switch similar to Fig. VI, but in theposition indicated by Fig. V.

Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of the invention is shown ascomprising a base I, to the central portion of which is rigidly secureda vertically extending shaft 2, while to the upper end of said shaft isfixedly secured a cover plate 3, by means of a detachable nut 4.Rotatably mounted upon the lower portion of said shaft, slightly spacedabove the base I, is a rotatable disc 5, provided with an annular rack 6and provided also upon its peripheral edge portion with an upwardlyextending cylindrical member I, which latter is provided with at leasttwo vertically spaced rows of apertures, 8 and 9. These apertures may beof any desired number and spacing, and preferably continue throughoutthe entire circumferential extent of said cylindrical member, andrepresent any desired sub-division of a 24-hour day, or other unit oftime. In the drawing, one of the apertures 8 and one of the apertures 9,is shown in each case as being positioned upon the vertically oppositesides of hourindicating numerals l0, but it is to be understood thatsaid apertures may be more closely spaced in order to additionallyrepresent various sub-divisions of each hour unit, as for instance,quarter-, half-, and three-quarter hour periods, or otherwise as may bedesired.

In the operation of this device, lugs or pins of any suitable size andshape are inserted through pairs of upper and lower apertures, as forinstance indicated by the pins II and I2, shown in Figs. I and In. Asindicated in Fig. I, the upper row of apertures 8 and the lower row ofapertures 9 represent respectively on and "off supporting means for theswitch actuating pins II and I2.

Rotatably mounted upon the shaft 2, between the fixed disc 5 and cover3, is a substantially i nating pins II and 12, as indicated in .and [9,the lower of said gears being in mesh with the rack 6, while the upperof said gears is in mesh with a smaller gear 20 carried by a. secondvertically extending shaft 2|, also supported by said frame arms I 3 andI4 and in addition extendingfreely upwardly through an aperture 22 inthe cover 3, to provide a projecting end portion 23 to which ispreferably detachably secured one .end of a flexible shaft 24, theopposite end of which shaft is provided with resilient fingers v25,

adapted. to detachably but normally firmly grip, that shaft 26 of aclock or equivalent mechanism 21, which rotates in accordance with theminute hand or the hour hand thereof, the only difference being that ifthe minute hand shaft'is en'- gaged, a different ratio of reductiongears 20, I8,

I9 and 6, is required than if the hour hand shaft is thus engaged.

. The opposite end portion of the lower frame arm ll tothat whichsupports the shaft l1 and is provided with an up-standing arm 28,

spaced inwardly from the vertical arm l6, and

together therewith forms a pivotal support for a cradle 29 within and towhich is secured any suitable supporting means 30 for a switch element,which in this instance comprises a mer-' cury switch 3!,1 said switchsupporting means 30 being also provided with an extension 32,, :betweenwhich and said frame arm I4. extends a contraction spring 33,the purposeof which is to yieldingly maintain said switch element 3| in eitherofits angularly opposite positions, as indicated, for instance, in Figs. Vand V ,v as well as in Figs. VI and VI.

The cradle 29 is provided with a radially outward extension 34, whichcarries first an upwardly. extending arm 35, provided with laterallydirected oifsets 36, for alternately engaging the upper portion of theframe arm Hi, to limit the degree of movement of said cradle and theswitch carried thereby, while said cradle extension is provided in thesecond place with a substantially horizontally extending actuating lever31, provided with oppositely directed upper and lower divergent camsurfaces 38,;which alternately extend into the path of the relativelymovable time-desig- Figs. VI andVI In the operation ofthis device, thesame may vrest'upon any suitable support, such as a shallow base plate(Fig. III) or a higher block base (Fig. I), while the actuatingclockmechanism,

may rest upon the same or other convenient support. As the particulartime indicating hand of said clockmechanism rotates in the usual manner,it causes a rotation of the shaft2l and I! through the interposedflexible shaft 24.

This, in turn, effects a rotation of the cylindrical member 1 withrespect to a fixed pointer I and also the frame I 3-I 6, switch element3| and actu on and off positions may be effected as many times asdesired during a twenty-four hour or other specified period, asindicated by the indicia and spacing of the apertures 8 and 9 upon thecylindrical member 1.

Finally, by suitably wiring said switch 3| to a pair, of twinreceptacles 40 and 4| carried by the cover plate 3, shifting of saidswitch respectively connects or disconnects an electrically actuated orenergized device, connected through one of said receptacles to a sourceof current connected to the other of said receptacles. 7

Further than the foregoing, it is to be understood that this disclosurerepresents merely one construction, whereby the invention can be putinto practice, wherefore there are probably in- .numerahle variationsofall substitutions for the same, which still fall within the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A hollow rotary member adapted. to be moved at constant speed andprovided with time indicating indicia, a relatively stationarysupporting member within said first member, an

electric mercury switch carried by said stationary member within saidhollow member, selectively positioned means carried by said rotary'gageable with said switch in adjustable sequence, to automatically tiltsaid switch in opposite directions to on and on positions atpredetermined time intervals.

2. A hollow rotary cylindrical member comprising the outer wall ofacasing and having spacedrows of regularly spaced apertures identifiedby time-indicating indicia,pins adapted to be inserted throughand'project fromsaid apertures in selective arrangement, a relativelystationary member within said first member, a tiltablev mercury switchcarriedby said stationary member within said hollow member andalternately in the paths of said pins when in said apertures, and meansadapted to be attached to and rotatable with the hands of a clockmovement, and connected through reduction gears to said rotary member,to actuate said rotary member'and thereby said switch in accordance withsaid clock hands. v

, J. MADISON.

